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Dear Editors,
I read with great interest your headline news story,
“Labour Union Sues Shell Over Severance
Benefits,”[Volume 8 Number 396, December 2, 2007].
It brought back unpleasant memories of how I felt
when I first learned of the change in policy and
what it means to my separation payment. I was
stunned and left completely devastated. The company
where I worked for so many years with my full
commitment has betrayed me.
From the local management side, the motivation is
clear in changing the half century old policy as
each of them are entitled to get an additional
separation payment in the region of one million
Birr, which is deducted practically from all other
employees.
But with Shell, it is different. It is one of the
richest corporations in the world; its annual sales
and cash flows are measured in hundreds of billions
of dollars. Thanks to record high oil prices, the
company is richer than ever before.
Beside, these monetary factors, the company prides
itself on embracing honesty, integrity and respect
for people as its core values. Anyone who happens to
get associated with Shell, either as an employee,
supplier, contractor or customer, is given the
pamphlet on Shell’s General Business Principles,
which the company proudly says to be governed by in
conducting its affairs with various stakeholders of
the company.
In those business principles, Shell attempts to
present itself as the most socially responsible
corporation that takes care of its employees,
customers, suppliers and the environment ahead of
any profit motives. It is such corporation that
changes its practices and policies in order to earn
profit against the interest of its own employees.
After this incident, I suffered such trauma that I
do not think I will ever again take it seriously
when multinationals talk about values and business
principles. Shell and Enron have taught me enough
lessons.
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